Reader's Choice (My first record):Tina Turner 'What's Love Got to Do With It'

Thanks, Chris, for this, which needs no intro. But it would be lovely if you could let us know the circumstances of your buying or gift of this particular disc. Curious, we are, that's all.

Reader's Choice (My first record): Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band 'We've Got Tonight'

Don't know which of several Bob's we know sent this in but we liked his comment: "And I still didn't get the message..." How old were you, Bob? Six?

Reader's Choice (My first record): Michael Jackson 'Bad'

Thank-you, Kip, for this. Ole Michael at his (later) best. Kip's comment: "My father just could not understand why anyone would want to buy a record with this title. Being of the Frank Sinatra brigade, he gave me the money for it - and later, when he listened to it, he said, 'Not bad, not bad at all.'"

Reader's Choice (My first record): Take That 'Pray'

This was an anonymous entry, which we don't normally allow, but we couldn't resist the comment it came with: "It's rather sad that gays have captured male eroticism so thoroughly. The bodies of attractive young men also appeal to women, and that is the point of this video; to appeal to a young female audience sexually. Instead, it is interpreted as "homoerotic"; as if only gay men have a sexual drive. Rather insulting to women, really." (Prospro note: Personally, I haven't moved since the 70s and all I know is that he signed a monumental contract as a solo artist when he left Take That... wot do I know?)

Reader's Choice (My Firt record): Buddy Holly 'Oh Boy!'

Thanks to Phil for this one. It only shows his/our age, but it (and us) are still around still around. Can't do much about the quality, though this was recorded from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958.

Reader's Choice (My first record): Meatloaf 'Bat Out of Hell'

Sandy sent this one in. Well, she sent in something that wasn't good enough to put up here (now, that' saying something! ) so we found this on YouTube instead. And for that you get a whole lot more information:>

Readers' Choice (My first music): 'Mercedes Benz', off Janis Joplin's 'Pearl'

'Pearl' is Allan's second album, which he sent in because his first was Pink Floyd's The Wall, which we featured some (long time back). Apparently, the German car maker is using this song for their advertising - it's only taken them just under 40 years,  as Pearl was released on February 1, 1971.

Reader's Choice (My First Music): The Sound of Music

Renate says, "The first music my mom bought us was the record to The Sound Of Music, we could sing along to EVERY song!" So here's a selection of them - and Prospero admits to having seen this movie about 12 times. Still brings memories of another age. On the YouTube place we got it there is a comment that says something like 'If only clothes, houses and people's manners were like that these days the world would be a better place.' (Prospero note: Not entirely sure about that and I look scary in lederhosen.)

Reader's Choice (My First Singles): McGuinness Flint.

NOTICE FROM OBA: NO FOOD SATURDAY OR SUNDAY (COOKS ARE AWAY BUT RETURNING SOON!)

"Led Zeppelin were my early album buys ... try Rain Song or When the Levee Breaks for sheer genius. First singles were The Poacher by Ronnie Lane and When I´m Dead and Gone by McGuinness Flint. Also an early buy was Lou Reed's Transformer with Walk on the Wild Side and Perfect Day. Has anyone seen Susan Boyle's version of Perfect Day? Lovely!" Thanks for taking part, Sue! Hadn't heard it in - oh, never mind! It comes directly from that vinyl you remember so well. We chose it instead of Led Zep and the rest for that very reason - even the scratched surface brings back fuzzy memories (won't say why fuzzy).
Please keep sending us your First Album/Record/Music/Whatever (musically speaking). All you have to do is e-mail us a link, or even just a mention in 'comments' below, and we'll try to find it to put up each Saturday.

Reader's Choice: My first album

Wow, our request for your first album has brought in several items, including this one from Sandy, who says, "I bought this in 1976 or 77. I chose this track off the Hotel California album because I was a new kid in town. Town was London, and my parents moved there from Cornwall. I felt like a fish out of water at 14 and I remember crying to this song. Things went uphill later. P.S. Great idea, Prospero. Hope a lot of people send their first music in! You're not as young as I thought." Why, thank you, Sandy.

Reader's Choice: Harry Belafonte 'Island in the Sun'

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 STARTING TOMORROW! TRADITIONAL SUNDAY ROAST from €12.50!

As we warned you yesterday, this is the first in a new series of Readers' Choice items to appear regularly on Saturdays. This particular one was Prospero's idea to start the ball rolling, where we ask you to send in a link or even just a mention of the first record you ever bought, which we'll try to find if you can't. For Prosp, Harry Belafonte's Calypso LP (remember those?) started a lifelong interest in Afro Caribbean music as well as a thorough distaste for racial discrimination of any kind, principally through Belafonte's invo;lvement in the anti-apartheid movement of the 60s and 70s. This song was included in the album.

READERS' CHOICE IS BACK!

Yes, YOUR CHOICE IS BACK, DEAR READER! But we haven't any of your choices to be getting on with, so this is our choice. The banner ad at the top will tell you why we chose this wonderful version of  'With a Little Help from My Friends' by Joe Cocker from the archives of the German WDR TV series Rockpalast. The show was filmed at the Metropol in Berlin on October 31st 1980 with Cocker in fine voice on a strong set with many of his most famous tracks including "Delta Lady", "Cry Me A River", "The Letter", "You Are So Beautiful". Yes, we need your help, Dear Reader.

Reader's Choice: The patios of Córdoba

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Today's Reader's Choice comes from 'porcupie', a new contributor (it's a porkie, innit?). The patios in Córdoba are open to the public this weekend until next. They are absolutely magnificent every year. Gardening enthusiasts and anyone else who likes flowers, colours and Andalucía, are sure to thank whoever it is that sent it in, and us for suggesting you visit them. Find out more on http://www.andalucia.org/eventos/festival-de-los-patios-cordobeses/ in English.

Readers' Choice: Carl Perkins, Dave Edmunds, Brian Setzer - Honey Don't

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This must have been sent in by a wrinkly who has seen references here to the possibility of a new site called Wrecked Wrinklies Wrap - you are, you did, didn't you, Parfo? (Parfo? What kind of nick is that?) Anyway, enjoy! (And check our UpComing Events calendar for more things happening at the Oba!)

Readers' Choice: Kseniya Simonova's Amazing Sand Drawing

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Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "You've Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII. Thank you, Titi, for sending this in!

Readers' Choice: Something different...

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Thanks to Val for this, which just shows what you can do with that old pottery jar you were about to throw out. No, seriously, Max is playing the Gatham (the jar), the Tabla (in the middle) and the Pakhajav (on the right, silly). Good sounds that'll keep your fingers tapping on the table (Prosp, please stop doing that, you're bamphling the brudergong, man!). Also, it gets us away from all the gloomy Holy Week music - if you miss that, see today's post on CampoPulse.

Readers' Choice: Paco de Lucía 'Almoraima'

Thank you, Shahin, for this one, which gives us the perfect segueway to telling our readers that Paco de Lucía, who graced Jimena's International Music Festival some years ago and is considered the best flamenco guitarist of all time, has recently been awarded a 'Doctor Honoris Causa' degree a Berklee College in Boston.

This was sent in by someone calling him/herself 'Bongo'. We chose it because Mongo Santamaría is considered one of the world's best bongo players (and because Prospero has a bongo drum under his desk, with which he 'plays' along with this piece). The accompanying information: "Mongo's "Sofrito" played at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1985 with Mongo Santamaria: Conga Drums; Tito Puente: Timbales, Special Guest; Max Roach: Drums, Special Guest; Pablo Rosario: Percussion, Timbales; Sam Furnace: Alto Sax, Baritone Sax and Flute; Tony Hinson: Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax and Flute; Eddie Allen: Trumpet; Bob Quaranta: Piano; Eddie Resto: Bass and Jose Martinez: Drums."

Reader's Choice: Harry Belafonte 'Matilda'

This was 'sent in' by Prospero after a rainy night when he was on a nostalgia trip through YouTube. He found the first LP (remember those?) he bought age 12: Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' which featured this song. Enjoy!

Readers' Choice: Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles - Living for the City

A great song by two masters. Thanks, Somebo, for getting this one to us and thanks for reminding us of it. (Prospero note: As a lover of all black music, from wherever, I tend to be prone to taking them on board here. But in fact, we need more material, of other music, movies, funnies, whatever.)